Refuse collectors are set to go on strike over pay in Allerdale from tomorrow – here’s what you need to do.
The first two days of strike action will be tomorrow, Thursday April 27 and Friday April 28.
Unions Unite and GMB have also issued notifications for industrial action for next week and the week after.
Due to the bank holidays, there will be no collections on Monday May 1 and collections throughout the week will take place one day later than normal. For example, bins normally collected on Monday will be collected on Tuesday and collections due for Friday will take place on Saturday.
Cumberland Council has issued guidance for what people and businesses should do.
Domestic waste
Residents and businesses should continue to present their domestic waste collections and the team will aim to collect as much waste as they are able to.
If they are not able to collect a domestic bin on the scheduled day of collection, take it back in, and the team will prioritise these collections the following time. The service will be affected in the same way the following week due to the bank holiday on May 8 with collections being one day later.
Recycling, paper and card and garden waste
The service is suspended during the industrial action. People should not put out their recycling, paper and card or garden waste as refuse collectors will be prioritising collecting domestic and trade waste.
People are advised to take their recycling to the bring sites around the area – find out where your nearest one is here: https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-street-cleaning/recycling/recycling-banks
Household Waste Recycling Centres
People are asked not to take wheelie bins to Household Waste Recycling Centres, but they will be open as normal.
Locations and opening times can be found here: https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-street-cleaning/recycling/household-waste-recycling-centres-hwrcs
A permit is required if people are visiting the Household Waste Recycling Centres in a van, pickup, flatbed, or tow a twin-axle trailer up to three metres long. Details can be found here: https://legacy.cumberland.gov.uk/planning-environment/waste-management/permitscheme/default.asp
Why are refuse collectors going on strike?
They are employed by Allerdale Waste Services, a wholly owned trading company of Cumberland Council – formerly Allerdale council.
The unions said workers were paid £10.90 an hour as loaders and drivers were paid £11.89. They claim the pay rates are among the lowest for refuse workers in the UK.
Cumberland Council said the unions’ demands for up to a 32.6 per cent increase in wages was unaffordable.
Charles Holmes, managing director of Allerdale Waste Services said: “It is disappointing that the unions have taken this step to call a strike. The strikes are in the context of the workforce having been awarded a 10.1 per cent pay rise on April 1 this year. This equates to drivers being paid an annual salary of £27,508 and the loaders £22,165. The Union’s request of a 32.6per cent (inclusive of the 10.1 per cent) increase for drivers and 19.2 per cent for loaders is completely unaffordable and is not able to be supported by the company.
“We have been in dialogue with union representatives last week and this week. We have requested more time to be able to resolve the matter and a request for the strikes to be called off, which they have not accepted. We therefore have no option but to put forward contingency plans to try and minimise the impact on residents and businesses in the area as best as we can, however, we ask that people are patient with us at this difficult time.”
Am I affected?
The industrial action only affects the Allerdale area and not those operated in the Carlisle and Copeland areas.
